Life-preserver.



R. F. COLLINS.

' LIFEPRESERVER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1G, 1914.

Lmg, Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

27g. z.. i

jigieaesa Specification of Letters Patent.

v lmatented Maiaa 2, 19315.-

Apploaton lcrl .lilly 16, 1914;. Serial lilo. Sl.

[o all/whom may concern Be it known that l, Rossum F. CoLLiNs', a 'citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, ,in the county loif Spokane ariel State of Washington, havenventecl a new aiicl useful Lifelreserver 5 and l do hereby declare the olloivin to b e a full, clear, and exact description oit. the invention, suoli as ,i guard against puncturing..

- serverI afloat, but to guard against punctur ing in such a manner as to therebetween.

will enable others skilled in the art to which is 'appertains to make anol 'use the same.

VThis invention relates to a neviT and useful life preserver or buoy. g

An object of the invention is to provicle an improved life preserver constructed of heavy suitable Waterproof material, not only to guard-against the iniow or" water, but to A' further object ,of the invention is the provision of a device of this nature having a plurality of air chambers adapted to be inflated, not only to 4maintain the life pre'- revent the escape-ot' tbe entire inflation ot air in the life lireseiv,enl which would cause the preserverand the person therein to sink.

Anotherr object ofthe invention is the provision uit a tapering lite preserver, theair chambers being also tapering, ami at the apex of the preserver a storage battery of sufficient voltage is arranged, which not only' acts to supply current to a heating bulb, 'but also constitutes means of a ballast, not only to maintain the life preserver at a Proper distance in the Water, but to maintain the equilibrium thereof. ln other Words, to

counterbalance the preserver.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a foot board or rest spaced apart from the storage battery or ballast, thereby forming a heating compartment Another feature of the invention is the provision of a transverse Web or strap, which the occupant straddles as a seat.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an elastic shirred rubber yoke, designed to fit closely about the neck of the occupant, and also a hood fitting over the head of the occupant, said hood having proper openings for breathing, and sight openings properly Windowefl'to protect the eyes vfrom the water.

ln practical. iielrls the detailsvot construction may necessitate alterations, falling.

i rlhe invention comprises further features and combination of'parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown Aiii the drawings and claimed;

ln the drawings: Figure l. is a View in.

elevation, partly iu sectionof the improved life preservar or buoy constructed iiiaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional. View on line 2--2 of Fig. f1, more clearly showing the plurality `oi` inilatecl air chambers l? 3 is anenlargged detail view in perspective of the letter apex enel ci the preservar. i is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4% ci?L FigL. Fig. 5 is a cletail. Referring more especially to the cli-avr ings, l designates an iiiiier casing, and 2 an out/er casing, Whereas 3 and @c denote inter mediate easings. Between the several casf ings tliere are `)three air chambers 5, 6 and 7. The forward air chambers are inflated by means of the tube 8, whiohlias branch tubes Q'entering' the several chambers, there being the usual check Valves as indicated at l0 to prevent theescajpe of air as the chambers are being illerli The rear air chambers are n inflated by the tube l2 having branch tubes 13 and the usual check valves, similar to the first check valves. ln using the life preserver these chambers' are inflated, and if eitherl the forward or rear outer Wall or casing' 'is punctureol, which Woulol cause a deilation ci tlie chamber adjacent thereto, it 'will be seen that the remaining chambers will remain intact. lt will be observed that these chambers are tapering toward' the bottom or lower apex enclfo the preserver. The lower apex enti ont' this preserver is provided with a suitable storage battery 14, which not only supplies current to the heating bulb or the like l5, but also constitutes a ballast for maintaining the equilibrium of the preserver or buoy. Spaced apart above the storage battery or ballast is a foot board or rest 16, suitably padded; upon its upper surface asshoivn at 17, and upon the under surface the heater or bulb 15 is secured. The occupant of the 'preserver or buoy stands upon the foot rest or board, and stradtlles a heavy canvas web or leather strap or the like 18, which is secured at 1,9 detachably and adjustably to the inner face of the inner casing. The strap or web 18 is made detachable and adjustable, in order to be useful to dilerent sized persons or occupants. A suitable belt or stragi` 20 is pro violed upon the iunirasortiori of the inner iia casing, so as to securely strap or fasten the occupant within the buoy or preserver. A suitable receptacle or the like 2l is also arranged upon the inner portion of the inner casing, in which a limitedv supply of water and food may be stored. Where the upper portions of the 'several casings merge together, as'shown at 22 a suitable elastic rubber waterproofed yoke is connected in any suitable manner. This yoke 23 is not only elastic,vbut is designed to be shirred, so as to closely fit the neck of the occupant, as

shown in the drawing. A suitable hood 24 is designed to lt over the head of the occupant and provided with waterjtight connections as shown at 25, atthe Junction of the yoke and said'casings. This hood is provided with suitable openings 2G to en' able the occupant to breath, and additional chambers gradually tapering to an apex at the lower portion of the preserver, a storage battery in the apex of the preserver for supplying current to an electric heater and constituting a ballast, a foot rest spaced apart above the storage battery, and a transverse web or strap connecting the opposite walls of the innermost casing constituting a seat for the occupant.

2. A life preserver comprising an innermost casing and an outermost casing and intermediate casing having a plurality of inflated air chambers between said casing, said casings at the top ofthe life pr server merging together, an elastic shirretl yoke connecting said casings where they. merge together, said casings and the chambers gradually tapering towardan apex at the lower end ofthe litepreserver, heating means in the ape. of the preserver, and a foot rest spaced apart above vthe heating means. I

3. A life preserver comprising aninnermost .casing and an outermost casing and intermediate casing having a plurality of inflated air chambers between said casing, said casings at the top of `the life preserver mergingtogether, an elastic shirred yoke connecting said casingswhere they mergetogether, said casings and the chainbers gradually tapering toward an apex at the lower end of th'e life preservar, heating means in the apexv of the preservcr, and afoot rest spaced apart above the heatl ing means, anda transverse web or strap adjustably connecting the opposite walls of the inner casing constituting a seat for the octapant, and a hood on the upper portion of the life preserver having a'water-tight joint at the junction of the merging of the casing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUSSELL F. ooLLiNs 

